Off-Season Solution

Cure the winter blues with snowshoe running

Running in snowshoes along a snow-covered path surrounds you with winter's magic. ...

Photo by Brian Solano

Running in snowshoes along a snow-covered path surrounds you with winter's magic. Thick snow drapes the trees and a fox's tracks stitch a pattern across a meadow's white quilt. The ground feels like a soft mattress. The air is stone silent.

While most trail runners wait until the spring thaw to resume training, snowshoeing can jump-start your fitness months earlier. The soft snow also gives your body a break from running's pounding.

Snowshoe running avoids icy roads and slush-splattering traffic, and lets you tromp along your favorite trails. "You begin the running season not only physically stronger and more fit, but also mentally stronger, knowing you kept up, or even improved your fitness level," says Danelle Ballengee, 11-time North American Snowshoe Champion and hardcore trail runner.